Yuki Tsunoda 'Disappointed and Pissed Off' After Red Bull Demotion for F1 2026

Yuki Tsunoda is facing the reality of his demotion from a Red Bull race seat for the 2026 F1 season, expressing disappointment and frustration. Despite a challenging season with Racing Bulls, the Japanese driver believes the full impact of the decision hasn't entirely sunk in yet.

Why it matters:

This demotion puts Tsunoda's F1 career on hold and highlights Red Bull's stringent driver development program. For a driver who has been part of the Red Bull family for years, losing a full-time seat is a significant setback, raising questions about his future in Formula 1 and the opportunities available outside the Red Bull umbrella.

The details:

• Demotion Confirmed: Tsunoda will not retain his race seat with the Red Bull teams for 2026. This marks a significant shift, as he will not return to Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri), where he debuted in 2021.
• Performance Disparity: In the current season, Tsunoda has scored 30 points in the RB21, a stark contrast to his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen's 396 points, making it the most one-sided pairing on the grid.
• Notification: Tsunoda was informed of Red Bull's decision by Helmut Marko privately, immediately after the Qatar Grand Prix.
• Emotional Response: He described himself as "disappointed and p***ed off" but also "surprisingly okay," acknowledging the full weight of the situation might not hit him until after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• Contractual Limitations: Tsunoda revealed that his Red Bull contract prevented him from exploring other options or engaging in significant discussions with external teams, despite some interest.
• New Role: He will remain within the Red Bull family as a reserve driver, behind Ayumu Iwasa in the pecking order at Racing Bulls, essentially putting his F1 racing career on pause.

The big picture:

Red Bull's driver choices have always been a high-stakes game, and Tsunoda's demotion underscores the intense pressure and fierce competition within their young driver program. While a setback, history shows that some drivers, even those dropped by Red Bull, have found a path back to F1, such as Sergio Perez, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, and Nico Hulkenberg. This offers a glimmer of hope for Tsunoda's eventual return to a full-time grid slot.

What's next:

Tsunoda plans to leverage his time as a reserve driver to gain a broader perspective on the sport. He expressed excitement about learning from a different vantage point and maintaining his fitness and readiness to "smash the opportunity" if a chance arises. His focus will be on learning and preparing for any future opening, aiming to return to a full-time F1 seat.